In the third season of the successful TV show Project Rembrandt, airing from January 23 on NPO 1, we follow a new competition among a group of highly driven painting talents.

Annechien Steenhuizen guides the contestants through highs and lows as they cross brushes to compete for the title of “Best Amateur Painter of the Netherlands.” Who will take home this coveted title this time? Once again, this season’s aspiring painters are coached by instructors Iris Frederix and Tyas Leeuwerink. Under their passionate guidance, the participants get the opportunity to further develop their talent in figurative art.

New this season is jury member Raquel van Haver. This successful Amsterdam-based artist with Colombian roots is known for her large-scale works and her raw, narrative, and figurative painting style. With a solo exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in 2018 and exhibitions around the world, she has established herself as a prominent name in contemporary art — the ideal juror for a new generation of talent. Alongside jury member Pieter Roelofs, Head of Paintings and Sculpture at the Rijksmuseum, Raquel will evaluate the amateur painters’ works. Together, they decide who advances and who is eliminated.

In each episode, the amateur painters complete assignments inspired by Rembrandt and other great masters. However, the goal is not to copy or imitate these masters but to draw inspiration from their work and develop a unique personal style. The assignments take the painting talents to beautiful locations across the country, where they also encounter special guests such as Yvon Jaspers, Bert van Leeuwen, Sergio (the host of First Dates), and Fred van Leer. Who will surprise the jury the most and ultimately earn the honor of exhibiting their work at the Rijksmuseum?